This week, Wildlife and Countryside Link launched its 2022 progress report on 30×30 in England. In 2020, the government had signed up to a commitment to protect and manage 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 and WC Link has pledged to come together every year for the next 8 years to track progress against this commitment.
In this first update, they found that progress was very limited with just 3.22% of land and a maximum of 8% of our seas well protected and managed for nature (compared to 3% and 4% respectively for 2021). This is clearly very far from the stated target and the report sets out a series of priorities for action in the year head:
- Bring existing terrestrial protected sites into good condition
- Extend the protected sites network on land
- Legislate to strengthen National Parks and AONBs for nature
- Deliver the initial five HPMA pilot sites and designate further HPMA sites (Highly Protected Marine Areas)
- Enact improved management of marine protected areas.
The report notes that to deliver these actions, the Habitats Regulations – the “strongest protections for the most significant and vulnerable sites and species” – must be retained.
To download a copy of the report see the Wildlife and Countryside Link website .